Monash Education Research Community (MERC)

The Monash Education Research Community (MERC), is an active network of research students and staff. MERC is open to all researchers in the faculty.

Established in 1992, MERC supports the idea that researchers develop best when their intellectual, academic and social needs are addressed through ongoing engagement in a supportive community of learners. On the basis of this philosophy, MERC represents the interests of research students in the faculty, organises seminars, conferences and social events in order to:

• facilitate interaction between staff and students and amongst students
• foster attitudes and actions that contribute to an active and inclusive research culture in the Faculty
• share information relevant to research activities in the Faculty
• support the study experience of students, particularly through provision of ongoing orientation, and facilitate Faculty response to the needs of the students as these arise
• provide a forum for ongoing discussion of researcher-generated questions related to specific aspects of research processes.
• encourage involvement by individuals in a supportive community when otherwise engrossed in independent research

Events

• Monthly Meetings
  MERC meetings take place each month (except January, July and December) at Clayton and Peninsula campuses.
• Seminars/Workshops
  MERC Academic Seminars/Workshops take place each month (except January, July and December) at Clayton / Peninsula campuses. MERC encourages HDR students to propose workshop/seminar topics.
• MERC Collaborative Colloquium by HDR students and Faculty scholars
  This is an academic event which aims to establish a dynamic forum for scholarly collaboration, interaction and sharing of educational research experiences and outcomes across a broad range of education disciplines between HDR students and academics from the Faculty of Education. It also aims to provide an opportunity for discussion and reflection on current research being conducted at Monash.
  
  Each session consists of two HDR students' presentations and one scholar's presentation on an aspect of their research. Each presenter has around 20mins of presentation and 10mins of Q&A. The students may test ideas, ask questions and seek feedback from others in a non-threatening and supportive environment and even to practise presentation skills! The students also have an opportunity to learn about the work and ideas of experienced researchers as an important aspect of their professional development. For further information on up-coming topics, keep an eye on your email, or contact one of the Clayton convenors. We hope to see you there.
  
  This event was developed from EROS 2009
• Annual Conference
  Each year MERC organises a conference for researchers in the Faculty. This forum is particularly useful for research students as it provides opportunity for them to:
  
  • familiarise themselves with the range of educational research being carried out across the campuses of the Faculty
  • meet with one another and to share academic opinions in a structured conference format
  • canvass multi-disciplinary collaborative projects within the Faculty 
  • practice academic presentation skills
• Global Education Systems Day
  This is a whole day academic event run by MERC. It is a forum where you can meet people working in the educational systems in different parts of the world and learn about various aspects of education in their countries. Established in 2009, the event has provoked a lot of interest and encouraged intellectual discussions.
  
• EVOLVE sessions
  This is a mentoring program for HDR students which aims to help with a transition from being a research student to an academic career. The following three topics will be covered in 2011:
  1. Attracting grants
  2. Resume building and prospecting jobs
  3. How to work on publication
  The EVOLVE sessions will be presented by experienced academic staff members. The dates will be announced through Ednews.
  
• MERC Social Events
  Who says that doing research is a lonely journey? MERC runs several social events to help HDR students and researchers in the faculty to develop a supportive network and friendly community. All HDR students and researchers of the Faculty of Education from all three campuses are warmly welcome.
  • Lunch networking – bring your lunch and enjoy a chat with other HDR students
  • International Food & Culture Nights
  • Family BBQs
  • End of Year Celebration Party